Perhaps you’ve heard the tale of a nymph transformed. That’s the essence captured in the Große Daphne Sculpture. It stands here as an expression of female grace.
The Große Daphne Sculpture is not just a statue. It is a symbol of transformation and feminine power. Renée Sintenis, the artist behind it, created a work that speaks volumes.
Renée Sintenis was an exception in the Berlin art world. This was in the 1920s and 1930s. She defied her parents’ wishes to become an artist. Her talent led her to the Berlin Secession in 1915. By 1931, she was the only female artist in the Prussian Academy of the Arts. The Nazis forced her to leave in 1934.
The Große Daphne sculpture embodies Sintenis’ artistic vision. It is perhaps her finest expression of feminine grace. Sintenis first explored the Daphne motif around 1917 with a smaller statuette.
The story of Daphne comes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Daphne transforms into a laurel tree to escape Apollo’s pursuit. Sintenis focuses on Daphne’s transformation. She hints at the change with leaves sprouting from her ankles, hair, and armpits. The sculpture highlights the fragility of physicality. The elongated limbs suggest the coming metamorphosis.
The “Große Daphne” serves as a symbol of the modern woman. Sintenis captures the ambivalence of femininity and the desire for emancipation. Sintenis embodied the spirit of the “Roaring Twenties”. She had an androgynous look, a slim figure, and short hair. She lived an emancipated life. After her husband’s death, she moved in with her partner Magdalena Goldmann. This was a courageous step for that time.
Sintenis used a classical myth to portray a modern woman. She expressed the dawn of a self-determined life. The bronze sculpture is a lifetime cast. The art foundry Hermann Noack in Berlin-Friedenau created it. You can find the foundry mark on the rear. The Große Daphne stands 145 cm tall. That is about 57 inches.
The “Große Daphne” is very rare. Only a few casts have been offered at international auctions. Other casts are in museum collections. The Museum of Modern Art in New York owns one. At least five copies are in museums today.
Several exhibitions have featured the Große Daphne. These include shows at Galerie Flechtheim in Berlin and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It was also part of “Daphne. Mythos und Metamorphose” at the Gerhard-Marcks-Haus in Bremen.
The Große Daphne transcends a mere depiction of myth. It embodies the spirit of a changing era. Sintenis captured the essence of female empowerment. The sculpture remains a timeless symbol of transformation. As you gaze upon the Große Daphne Sculpture, consider its journey. From Sintenis’ vision to its place here. It stands as a testament to artistic expression and female strength.